Apparatus for cleaning windows and the like.



P. A. WIMBLE. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING wnmows AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1908.

Patented June 22, 1909.

M47154 6 w,m@ QMM air Less e8 UNITED STATES Pii TEN T OFFICE.

FLORENCE ANNIE WIVBLE, O1 SHEPI-IERDS BUSH, LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING WINDOWS AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FLORENCE ANNIE W'IMBLE, a subject of His Majesty the King of England, residing at and whose postoffice address is 35 St. Stephens avenue, Shepherds Bush, London, England, have in vented new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Apparatus for Cleaning Vinclows and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved means for cleaning windows and other surfaces especially those not easily get-at-able or of considerable height, and also those which to clean the same necessitates the operator in the ordinary way to emerge from the window, mount a ladder or occupy some dangerous situation.

The object of the invention is to facilitate the cleaning of the windows and at the same time to enable the operator to do so in perfect safety.

To make the invention clearly and readily understood I will describe the same with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a sectional side view of one form thereunder. Fig. 2 is a plan view of another form. Fig. 3 is a side view of the cleaner shown by Fig. 2. Fig. t is a view of one of the webbing attaching frames of the cleaner shown in Figs. 2 and 3; and Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the window sash guards and wedges preferably employed with the cleaner. Fig. 6 illustrates a cleaner with provision for use with a stick.

With the above object in view the invention consists of a plate to which is secured material for washing the window, and which is provided with means such as elastics for temporarily holding the drying and polishing cloths. As the washing material I prefer to employ a substance known in the trade as loofah, and which I find to be resilient, easily cleaned, and well suited for the purpose required.

According to one form of my invention, and as shown by Fig. l, I provide a plate a which has directly secured to it the one end of a length of webbing or the like I). The other end of the webbing is adapted, as shown in Fig. 4, by means of a cross piece 0 and frame cl to be detachably connected to the plate a when the webbing is passed over the window sash 6, whereby the plate a, by pulling the webbing, can be moved over the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 22, 1908.

Patented June 22, 1909.

Serial No. 449,870.

surface of the window by the operator from the inside of the window to wash, dry and polish the same. An elastic f is fitted around the plate a to hold the drying and polishing cloths, but as shown and preferred, the plate is fitted permanently with the washing material g.

As a modification of the above described embodiment of the invention I may employ two plates 0, a fastened back to back as by brackets h pivoted together by a pin 2' about which the plates may rock against the influence of springs j tending to force the plates apart. To the pin 2' are pivoted two frames (6, cl one having one end of the webbing permanently secured thereto and the other having the other end of the webbing detachably secured thereto by a cross-piece c which after being passed over the window sash is caused to engage the frame as shown in Fig. 4. The two limbs of each frame preferably pass through and are connected by rings to the springs so that when the webbing is pulled the parts of the springs between said limbs and the frame lying against the window are compressed and serve to cause the frame to press against the window the required extent to properly clean, dry and polish the same. The connection of the detachable end of the webbing with its frame (Z is of course made from inside the window after the webbing is placed over the window sash. The cleaner is then drawn to the outside of the window and the webbing manipulated to draw the cleaner up and down and from side to side in an obvious manner. As shown both plates (1 and a are provided with cleaning material as loofah and each is provided with an elastic f to hold the drying and polishing cloths, but if desired only one of the plates may have the cleaning material and the other an elastic.

To lessen the friction between the window sash and the webbing I prefer to provide rounded channel-shaped guards Z to fit temporarily onto the top and bottom parts of the window sash, and to fix loose windows during the cleaning operation I may provide wedges m with the guards.

The double frame cleaner might be advantageously provided with a socket or sockets n for receiving a stick 0 Fig. 6 for certain uses of the cleaner.

Other well known holding means than the elastics f may be used to hold the drying and polishing cloths if desired.

Haring thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Vindow cleaning means comprising two plates, washing material carried thereby, means for temporarily holding drying and polishing cloths, brackets attached to said plates, said brackets being hinged together, a length of webbing permanently attached at one end to the plates and detachably secured at the other end to the plates and springs tending to force the plates apart, substantially as described.

2. indow cleaning means comprising two plates, washing material carried thereby, means for temporarily holding drying and polishing cloths thereto, brackets attached to said plates said brackets being hinged together, webbing holding members pivoted between the plates, a length of webbing permanently attached at one end to one of said webbing holding members and detachably secured at the other end to the other of said members, and means tending to force the plates apart substantially as herein described.

3. Window cleaning means comprising two plates, washing material carried thereby, means for temporarily holding drying and polishing cloths thereto, brackets attached to said plates said brackets being hinged together, webbing holding members pivoted between the plates, a length of webbing permanently attached at one end to one of said webbing holding members and deta-chably secured at the other end to the other of said members, and springs tending to force the plates apart, said springs and the webbing holding members co-acting to press the cleaning device against the surface of the window when a pull is exerted on the webbing to draw the cleaner over the window substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FLORENCE ANNIE WVIMBLE. lVitnesses 11153 1'. Conn. Hnmn,

HOWARD POULSON. 

